Expansion-trap



PATENTE!) FEB. 16, 1904 E. H. GLD. EXPANSION TRAP.

APPLIGATION PILED uns. 1903.

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No. 752,219. f PATENTBD FEB. 16, 1.904.

E. H. GoLD.

EXPANSION TRAP.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 6. 1903.

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mail* "lla Ilm'lxll/ll'll"11111lllllllllM/fllllll llllll/IIA UNITED STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EXPANSION-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0i' Letters Patent No. 7 52,219, dated February 16, 1904.

Application iledvpril 6, 1903. Serial No. 151,320l (No model.)

-To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

automatic expansion-traps for the discharge of the water of condensation from Vheating systems, and is especially adapted for use in connection with heating lsystems of railwaycars.

My invention relates to that type of trap in which the trap is opened by the contraction of an expansion device caused by itsexposure 'to the atmosphere and is closed by the' expansion of` the expansion device resulting from the heat of the steam which escapes from the trap and comes in contact with the eX- pansion device or expansion-chamber after the water of condensation has been discharged from the trap. In practice,` especially inthe use of such traps upon railway-cars, it is found that if the expansion device or diaphragm is wholly exposed to the atmospherek the tendency is for the expansion device to become so chilled that it will not be promptly or effectively closed by the escaping steam, with the result that there is a great loss of steam from the heating system. This is especially true in the use of these devices in connection with car-heating systems where the expansion device is exposed beneath the car, and so is eX- posed to a strong current of cold air. To overcome this,the diaphragm has been inclosed within a chamber which connects by a suitable passage-way with the trap, so that the water of condensation ows through this discharge passage-way into the expansion-chamber over the expansion device and thence out throughV openings in the bottom of the expansion-chamber. As soon as the trap is emptied of water the live steam follows a like course and coming in contact with the expansion device causes its prompt expansion and the prompt shut oii of steam. If, however, the diaphragm is wholly inclosed except for ythe discharge ports through the expansion -chamber, there will be a tendency-for` the diaphragm-,chamber to become so heated that the expansion device will not contract promptly, and there is a consequent undesirable accumulation of water of condensation in the heatingy system.

It is the object of my'invention to provide means for overcoming these objections in either direction and also to provide means for adapting the device to diiferentconditions of atmospheric temperature. These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the devices illustrated in the accomlpanying drawings,v in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a trap providedv with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional detailof an imperforate expansionchamber and attached parts with thediaphragm removed. Fig. 2% is a similar view with the bottom plate swung open. is an elevation of the expansion-chamber.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the expansionchamber on the iine i 4: of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view ofa modification. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view oi a modication. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the under side of the modification; and Fig.` 8 is a sectional detail of a car, showing the preferred manner of applying my improved trap thereto.

Like letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several ligures of the drawings.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a familiar i'ormof eXpansiontrap-'such, for instance, as that shown and described in my Patent No. 492,495. Leading from the trap proper is a tube A, constituting a discharge-opening for the escape of the water of condensation and leading to the interior of the expansion-chamber B, within which rests the expansion device C. Resting upon the upper face of the expansion device C, which is'here shown in the form of a hermetically-seale'd diaphragm containing a volatile liquid, is a valve-stem'D, leading to the automatic valve controlling the discharge of water fromthe trap. Hinged to the bottom of the eX- pansion-chamber B is the bottom plate E. rIhe bottom plate E is provided with openings c for the escape of water of condensation to the atmosphere. The bottom plate E is provided on Fig. 3

its under side with wings F, which are arranged to converge toward the openings e. Preferably these wings F are three or more in number and extend radially from the center to the periphery of the bottom plate E. With'this a standstill or the current due to the passage of the train, and consequently the air will be directed by these converging wings into the openings e, with the result that there will be a greater volume of air passing through the expansion-chamber B and in contact with the under side of the diaphragm C than would otherwise be the case, and as a result there will be a more rapid cooling and contraction of the diaphragm. These Wings or similar means for conducting air into the interior of the expansion-chamber constitute one feature of my invention and in many situations will be sufficient. In order, however, to make the device adjustable to varying atmospheric conditions without varying the tension upon the diaphragm, I prefer also to provide the vertical wall G of the expansion-chamber with openings g to insure the still freer passage of air through the expansion-chamber and the consequent rapid cooling and contraction of the diaphragm. Inasrnuch as in extreme cold weather such additional volume of air passing through the diaphragm might unduly cool the diaphragm and keep it so cooled as to prevent its efective and prompt expansion by the escaping steam when the trap should be opened, I provide a perforated slide H, mounted upon the vertical wall G of the expansion-chamber and arranged to be operated bya button L, by means of which slide the openings g may be partially or entirely closed at will. I am thus enabled to adjust the operation of my trap to varying atmospheric conditions by admitting a greater or less ow of atmospheric air through the expansion-chamber.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have shown a modilication of my invention which may be used instead of or as supplemental to the structure shown inFigs. 3 and 4. In said modiiication I provide the bottom plate E with a pivotally-mounted disk I, provided with openings z', arranged to register with openings e' in the bottom of the plate E', said disk being provided with any convenient means for rotating itupon its center, so as to close the openings q to such an extent as may be desired in adjusting the operation of the trap to existing atmospheric conditions.

I claim- 1. Atrap comprising a valve, an expansion device, operative connections between said valve and said expansion device, a housing for said expansion device, openings into said housing, and projections arranged externally of said housing so as to direct a fiow of air into said housing through said openings.

2. In an expansion-trap, the combination with the expansion device, of a housing, openings through the bottom of said housing, and ribs arranged externally upon the bottom of said housing so as to catch the air and direct 'its low into some-of said openings.

3. In an expansion-trap, the combination with the expansion device, of a housing, provided with openings through its bottom, of projections arranged externally of said hous' `ing and radially of the bottom thereof to direct the iiow of air into said housing.

4. In an expansion-trap, the combination with the expansion device, of a housing provided with openings leading to the atmosphere, of means for wholly or partially closing said openings.

EGBERT H. GOLD. Witnesses:

THos. F. DOWNING, O'r'ro R. BARNETT. 

